Latina Abuse Alicia

| | Alicia’s Experience | |------------|------------------------| | Age | 32 | | Country of Origin | Guatemala | | Length of Stay in the U.S. | 10 years (legal permanent resident) | | Family Situation | Married at 22; mother of two children, ages 7 and 4 | | Employment | Cleaning services; works evenings to help support the household | | Language | Primarily Spanish; limited English proficiency | | Abuse Timeline | Physical, emotional, and financial abuse began shortly after marriage; escalated after the birth of second child. |

A local non‑profit, Latinas United for Safety (LUS) , connected Alicia with an attorney who specialized in VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) self‑petitions. This protected her legal status while allowing her to pursue a restraining order. Latina Abuse Alicia